Journal Of Academic Librarianship Research Articles

Passing the Baton

Whenever there is a change of editors at a scholarly journal, one expects to see the ritual "thank you," and it may seem pro forma. However, for portal: Libraries and the Academy this is a significant milestone, and I want to attach special meaning to my first editorial statement--not because it is mine, but because our young journal has become such a success so quickly and many are due a sincere thanks. Four years ago, the creation of this journal was the idea of a majority of the members of the board of the Journal ofAcademic Librarianship (JAL) who felt that it was time for librarians to take a stand similar to our colleagues in science, who were at last rebelling against the deleterious effects of commercialism on the exchange of scholarly information. Debate within the board was serious-minded, and some stayed out of principled commitment to the title. Those of us who resigned our positions on the board did so with considerable angst and not a little regret. My own reasons for resigning were typical, as I stated in e-mail to colleagues at the time.

Electronic journals: managing and educating for a changing culture in academic libraries

With the requisite IT infrastructure now becoming commonplace in academic institutions, electronic journals are becoming an established component of academic life, but the management of electronic journals can not yet be considered trouble‐free. This latest research project at Liverpool John Moores University focuses on the evaluation and promotion of electronic journals in academic libraries in the UK and in North America. The aim is to highlight any significant differences in the way that electronic journals are managed and to identify successes in order to establish “best practice”. Several issues emerge from the research. For electronic journals to become a significant alternative to the print version, there needs to be a recognition that the introduction of electronic journals will impact on working practices and staffing requirements, requiring more technical skills and competencies and changes in management priorities. Furthermore, electronic journals are still a “moving target”, making realignment even more difficult and posing awkward questions for decision makers as to the best way forward. The whole process of electronic journal development requires effective management of change. Interoperability would seem to provide the key to many of the issues involved. All of these factors influence the changing arena of LIS education.

Response by Tony Seward to Steve McKinzie’s opinion in “Rough Seas and The Journal of Academic Librarianship : differing opinions by two academic librarians OPINION #1 : ROW STRAIGHT AHEAD”

Response by Tony Seward to Steve McKinzie’s opinion in “Rough Seas and The Journal of Academic Librarianship : differing opinions by two academic librarians OPINION #1 : ROW STRAIGHT AHEAD”

Rough seas and the Journal of Academic Librarianship : differing opinions by two academic librarians

Rough seas and the Journal of Academic Librarianship : differing opinions by two academic librarians

Win‐win‐win: can the evaluation and promotion of electronic journals bring benefits to library suppliers, information professionals and users?

Focuses on the areas of promotion and evaluation, discussing findings of a recent Liverpool‐based study of electronic journals in academic libraries in the UK and North America. Traces the growth of electronic journals and their impact on the role of information professionals. Although information professionals have adapted to these technical developments, there are indications from the study that the transition is incomplete in the areas of evaluation and promotion. As library staff are under‐resourced, suggests that library providers could assist by supplying relevant user statistics and by passing on the benefits of their own marketing expertise and promotional literature.

An Analysis of the Research Areas of the Articles Published in <i>C&RL</i> and <i>JAL</i> between 1990 and 1999

A total of 682 refereed articles from College & Research Libraries (C&RL) and Journal of Academic Librarianship (JAL) (376 and 306 articles, respectively) between 1990 and 1999 were analyzed with respect to the Research Agenda developed by the ACRL College Libraries Section (ACRL-CLS). The analysis finds that articles on collections, services, staffing, and the Internet have taken up the major portion of the peer-reviewed sections of C&RL and JAL. It also reveals that a wide variety of researchable questions remain to be studied and reported. This presents a challenge and an opportunity for academic librarians who wish to engage in research.

Collaborative Authorship in the Journal Literature: Perspectives for Academic Librarians Who Wish to Publish

Academic librarians, particularly college librarians, may increase their contributions to the professional literature through collaborative authorship. For example, university librarians, who published 69 percent of the articles in College & Research Libraries and the Journal of Academic Librarianship between 1986 and 1996, contributed almost 90 percent of the coauthored research in those core journals. This study examines the increase in collaboration in the literature of academic librarianship and in other disciplines, explores the relationship between collaboration and article quality as well as author productivity, compares collaborative patterns of college and university librarians, and considers factors that lead to successful collaboration.

Availability of Health Education Journals in Academic Libraries

Availability of Health Education Journals in Academic Libraries

The Research Literature of Academic Librarianship: A Comparison of <i>College & Research Libraries</i> and <i>Journal of Academic Librarianship</i>

College & Research Libraries (C&RL) and the Journal of Academic Librarianship (JAL) are the two primary journals in the field of academic librarianship. This study examines articles appearing in C&RL and JAL so as to evaluate these journals on the basis of type of articles published, structure of the articles, types of statistics used, and data collection methods used. The results indicate that C&RL publishes significantly more research articles than does JAL. Other results show that surveys are the primary form of data collection and that descriptive statistics are used much more frequently than inferential statistics. The percentage of research articles included in these journals has increased since earlier studies.

Confronting crisis: the importance of measuring the use of paper journals in academic libraries

Describes the continuing “cancellation crisis” in academic libraries in both the USA and the UK. Gives current prices of academic journals in the UK. Outlines methods used to measure the use of paper journals in libraries. Details a study revealing which of these methods are currently employed by the “new universities” in the UK. Stresses the need for accountability and the importance of use measurement to validate cancellation decisions.

Electronic journals in academic libraries: a comparison of ARL and non‐ARL libraries

In late 1997/early 1998, we conducted a survey dealing with library provision of electronic journals and other electronic resources. We compared the responses from a census of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) to a sample of non‐ARL Master’s, Doctoral, and Research institutions. Of the 299 libraries surveyed, 250 surveys were returned for a response rate of 83.6 percent. Analysis of the responses emphasizes the number and types of computers available in libraries, electronic resources in libraries, past and future cancellation decisions and archiving responsibilities. It was determined that both ARL and non‐ARL libraries offer extensive electronic services to their constituents. Libraries are beginning to cancel paper journals in favor of electronic versions. There is little consensus about who will archive electronic journals.

An Analysis of Articles by College Librarians

College librarians recognize research and publication as important components of professional growth and communication. Yet, compared to their counterparts in universities, they author fewer articles in the professional literature. This paper examines articles published by college librarians in College & Research Libraries and Journal of Academic Librarianship from 1986 to 1996 to provide a profile of college librarian authors and to identify factors that contributed to their success in publishing.

Book Reviews : British Journal of Academic Librarianship 9, (1/2), 1994. Special Issue on the Joint Funding Councils' Libraries Review Group Report (The Follett Report), 144pp

Book Reviews : British Journal of Academic Librarianship 9, (1/2), 1994. Special Issue on the Joint Funding Councils' Libraries Review Group Report (The Follett Report), 144pp

A review Article : Writing about academic librarianship

A review of the recently launched British Journal of Academic Librarianship and a brief examination of academic library journals currently available.